"Of course. The power of slipperiness can tighten and smooth the skin—making it flawless. It can even..."
Hikaru cleared his throat.
"Ahem, I mean, it can also remove spots, acne, pigmentation, yellow teeth, wrinkles, and so on. Not that any of you need those benefits..."
At this point, his tone wavered slightly.
He had suddenly remembered something—Robin had a small red mole on her body.
Seeing that Robin was still gazing at him expectantly, Hikaru continued:
"If the Slippery-Slippery Fruit is developed to a higher level, it might even 'slide away' fatigue, pain, and damage. But those advanced abilities would only be possible after awakening the fruit's full potential."
Unfortunately, the Slippery-Slippery Fruit (Sube Sube no Mi) had a low starting point. Fully developing those abilities would take too much effort. It would be far easier to just steal the abilities of the Meaty-Meaty Fruit (Kuku Kuku no Mi) instead.
Nami fell into deep thought.
She thought about Nojiko—her older sister, who had always taken care of her.
When Hikaru wasn't around, Nojiko had been the one working tirelessly in the orange orchard, tending to the trees under the blazing sun. Her once fair skin had turned a sun-kissed wheat color because of it.
Clenching her fists, Nami made up her mind.
"I want to give the Slippery-Slippery Fruit to my sister! This way, she can undo the sunburn she got from working so hard."
Her voice was firm and unwavering.
The other four girls exchanged glances and quickly agreed with happy smiles.
At that moment, Robin noticed something.
She glanced at Hikaru's empty hands and raised an eyebrow.
"That pirate crew… were they really that strong? You didn't even bring back any spoils."
"They were strong, no doubt about it," Hikaru admitted. "The Red-Haired Pirates—one of the four strongest pirate crews in the world, led by Shanks of the Four Emperors."
"Four Emperors?!" Carina gasped.
"What are the Four Emperors?" Nami asked, unfamiliar with the term.
Robin patiently explained, and by the end, the girls finally grasped the significance of what Hikaru had just said.
"Enough talk for now. I'm exhausted after today's events—I need some rest…"
Dawn Island – Goa Kingdom – Windmill Village
With Nami's Devil Fruit abilities growing stronger, Shimotsuki Yasuie was now enveloped in layers of thick clouds and mist, effectively concealing their presence.
The mist worked as a one-way barrier—those outside couldn't see in, but those inside could see everything.
"Onii-chan! There's a Marine ship docked at the port!" Nami reported from the window. "And the bow of the ship… it looks like a dog's head!"
"I see it."
Hikaru nodded.
"That's Garp's ship. Looks like he's returned to Windmill Village."
As he thought about it, Hikaru realized something.
With Buggy and Dragon being the only ones left, he had practically gathered all the big shots of the East Blue in one place.
"Wait… 'Marine Hero' Garp?" Carina's eyes widened in disbelief. "This tiny village is actually his hometown?"
Hikaru nodded, hoping Garp wouldn't cause any trouble.
His battle with Shanks had been necessary—to awaken his Conqueror's Haki—but there was no benefit in fighting Garp right now.
Activating his Observation Haki, Hikaru spread his awareness across the village until he finally located Garp—in none other than Dadan's hideout.
The old Marine was currently fast asleep in a chair, snoring loudly.
Nearby, Luffy was tied to a tree, his face covered in bruises from another round of Garp's 'tough love' training.
Yet despite his injuries, Luffy's stubborn spirit remained unbroken.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes, then turned back to face his companions.
"Garp isn't my target this time." His voice lowered. "I'm here to recruit the next goddess. Once I capture her, I'll be counting on you all to… convince her."
Robin smirked knowingly.
"My Lord God… are you not good at chasing women?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
With a mischievous smile, she began tallying up Hikaru's past conquests:
"I was half-coerced into signing a contract…" she mused.
"Nami, Vivi, Nojiko, and Carina? Contract-bound."
"Mikita and Marianne? Forced into subordination."
"And Tina? Straight-up coerced."
Upon hearing this, the goddesses all paused—then slowly turned toward Hikaru, staring at him with amused yet curious expressions.
Hikaru remained unfazed.
"Don't you already know whether I can or can't do it?" he said smoothly.
"A slow-paced pursuit is just too inefficient. Time is valuable. I prefer to secure my women first, then let love develop naturally afterward."
His lips curled into a smirk.
"Marry first—fall in love later."
The goddesses exchanged glances.
Wasn't that… exactly how things had gone so far?
And truthfully, they didn't mind it.
Hikaru's methods might cause resistance at first, but once a woman became his, there was no escaping his grasp.
She would eventually become… addicted.
Moreover, those who actively pursue others often lose the initiative—their success or failure hinges on the other party's choice.
Hikaru's approach was different.
By grasping what a woman truly needed—or, if necessary, creating that need—he ensured that the initiative always remained in his hands.
His success rate? 100%.
Robin, as his trusted and devoted wife, didn't speak without purpose.
First, she wanted to correct his image in the eyes of the other goddesses.
Second, she sought to unite their influence—subtly encouraging them to work together in guiding the next woman he set his sights on.
"The world is chaotic and dark," Hikaru said, his gaze steady.
"I only want to give my beloved concubines a home. The means don't matter. The result does."
The moment those words left his lips, his body crackled with lightning—and in an instant, he vanished.
Left behind, Robin lazily stretched on her recliner, her mind deep in thought.
The other goddesses exchanged knowing glances, their eyes filled with contemplation.
Windmill Village – Party's Bar
The afternoon sun bathed the quaint little bar in golden light.
Inside, the air was lively—filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses.
It was the only bar in Windmill Village, and its owner, Makino, had grown up here. She was well-loved by the villagers, known for her gentle demeanor and warm smile.
Humming softly to herself, she stood behind the counter, skillfully mixing drinks for her customers.
Just then—
Ding!
The bell above the door chimed.
A man stepped inside.
"Welcome~ What can I get for—"
Makino's voice trailed off as she looked up.
A gust of wind suddenly swept through the room, stirring the alcohol-laden air and replacing it with a crisp, fresh breeze.
The stranger strode forward, his every step slow and deliberate.
He finally stopped in front of the counter, lowering himself onto a barstool—his presence radiating effortless dominance.
And then—
THUD!THUD!THUD!
The sound of bodies collapsing filled the bar.
One by one, the diners slumped over, falling unconscious where they sat.
The once lively bar had fallen silent.
Makino's eyes widened in shock. Her hands instinctively flew up, covering her mouth as she trembled slightly.
"Conqueror's Haki."
There was no other explanation.
Hikaru watched her reaction with mild amusement, his unrestrained aura lingering in the air.
"Makino," he said casually, tapping his fingers against the polished countertop.
"Get me a cappuccino."
He paused, then chuckled.
"No, actually—bring me your best drink."
As he spoke, he flicked his hand across the counter.
A gold bar—flawless and heavy—clattered onto the wood.
It was payment.
Makino hesitated. Her gaze flickered between the unconscious villagers and the man sitting in front of her.
"H-He… T-They…" Her voice wavered.
Hikaru's expression remained calm.
"Don't worry," he assured her. "They're only unconscious."
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto hers.
"But your choice… will decide whether they wake up."
Makino stiffened.
"Eh? M-My choice…?"
"That's right," Hikaru said smoothly, resting his chin against his knuckles.
"Are you going to keep your guest waiting?"
For a moment, Makino was stunned.
She had never heard someone refer to themselves as an uninvited guest in such a confident manner.
Her gaze flickered to the villagers once more—then, after a deep breath, she steeled herself.
Reaching for the cocktail shaker, she resolved to do what she did best.
If she was going to serve him a drink—
She would make sure it was perfect.
Makino
A woman with a kind heart and a gentle smile, she carries the warmth of a big sister—or perhaps, a devoted wife.
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